OBSERVATION TASK 5 Options and decisions

The term ‘classroom management’ refers to the moment-by-moment decisions

made and actions taken by the teacher in class, e.g. writing on the board, giving
instructions, organising the class into pairs, etc. For every decision made, there
will have been other options that the teacher did not choose.
For each of the following headings:
1 note one example of a classroom situation in the lesson you are observing.
What does the teacher do?
2 note one or two other options that the teacher had at that point in the lesson,
but did not choose.

Example: Dealing with unexpected problems

Situation: A student arrived twelve minutes late for the lesson.
Action: Teacher said ‘hello’ politely. (The student then sat down quietly
and found out what was going on from his neighbour.)
Other options: Teacher could have asked why the student was late. Teacher
could have pointed out the time to the student.

Student participation in lesson

Situation:
Action:
Other options:

Grouping of students; arrangement of seating

Situation:
Action:
Other options:

Setting up activities; instructions

Situation:
Action:
Other options:

Board; classroom equipment; visual aids

Situation:
Action:
Other options:

Dealing with unexpected problems

Situation:
Action:
Other options:

Teacher’s role and participation

Situation:
Action:
Other options:
Other notes about the lesson:

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